---
title: Introduction to channels
---

import {TabItem, Tabs} from "@astrojs/starlight/components";

import FlattenedSteps from "../../components/FlattenedSteps.astro";
import NavigationSteps from "../../components/NavigationSteps.astro";
import ZulipTip from "../../components/ZulipTip.astro";
import ChannelsIntro from "../include/_ChannelsIntro.mdx";
import MobileChannels from "../include/_MobileChannels.mdx";

import BarChartIcon from "~icons/fa/bar-chart";
import SortAlphaAscIcon from "~icons/fa/sort-alpha-asc";
import UserOIcon from "~icons/fa/user-o";
import SubscriberPlusIcon from "~icons/zulip-icon/subscriber-plus";

<ChannelsIntro />

## Browse and subscribe to channels

Everyone other than [guests](/help/guest-users) can subscribe to any
[public](/help/channel-permissions#public-channels) or
[web-public](/help/channel-permissions#web-public-channels) channel. Channel
administrators can [configure](/help/configure-who-can-subscribe) who can
subscribe to [private](/help/channel-permissions#private-channels) channels.

<Tabs>
  <TabItem label="Desktop/Web">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <NavigationSteps target="relative/channel/available" />

      1. Scroll through the list of channels. You can use the **search box** near the
         top of the menu to filter the list by channel name or description.
      1. Click the **subscribe to channel**
         (<SubscriberPlusIcon class="zulip-unplugin-icon subscriber-plus-icon" />)
         icon to the left of a channel to subscribe to it.
    </FlattenedSteps>

    <ZulipTip>
      You can click on the icons in the upper right to sort the list of channels
      **by name** (<SortAlphaAscIcon />),
      **by number of subscribers** (<UserOIcon />), or
      **by estimated weekly traffic** (<BarChartIcon />).
    </ZulipTip>
  </TabItem>

  <TabItem label="Mobile">
    <FlattenedSteps>
      <MobileChannels />

      1. Scroll to the bottom of the list of subscribed channels.
      1. Tap **All Channels**.
      1. Scroll through the list of channels.
      1. Use the toggle to the right of the channel name to subscribe to it.
    </FlattenedSteps>
  </TabItem>
</Tabs>

## Related articles

* [Introduction to topics](/help/introduction-to-topics)
* [Create channels](/help/create-channels)
* [Channel permissions](/help/channel-permissions)
* [View channel information](/help/view-channel-information)
